Integrated multidimensional view of hierarchical objects

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to the display of multidimensional structures and provide a method, system and computer program product for managing an integrated multidimensional view of a structured collection of objects. In one embodiment of the invention, a data processing system can be configured to render an integrated view of a multidimensional structured collection of objects. The data processing system can include a GUI for a host application in a computing platform and multidimensional view processing logic coupled to the host application. The logic can include program code enabled to render a single, integrated multidimensional view of a structured collection of objects in the GUI.

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/318,805, filed Dec. 27, 2005, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to object hierarchies and moreparticularly to the visual presentation of a structured collection ofobjects in a graphical user interface (GUI).

Description of the Related Art

Electronic objects in a data processing system often are organizedhierarchically in a parent-child relationship. Specifically, theearliest file systems for computing environments provided a hierarchicaldirectory structure in which electronically stored documents could bestored in specific directories or folders. Directories and folders,collectively viewed as containers, could be nested to provide a level oforganization for electronic documents akin to a tree having a root node,leaf nodes and intermediate branches and connecting nodes.

Contemporary data structure theory expands upon the notion of thehierarchical directory structure to provide the most common form ofgenus-species data organization not only for file storage, but forgeneral objects in memory as well. While hierarchical trees are known tobe constructed programmatically in a number of ways, the most common wayis the linked list of nodes in a tree formation. Generally, thehierarchical tree can be visually rendered in a GUI by providingcollapsible nodes such that the hierarchy can be viewed merely as a rootnode, or the hierarchy can be viewed in fully expanded form to revealthe hierarchical tree. Of course, as each node in the hierarchy can beexpanded or collapsed individually, any portion of the hierarchical treecan be viewed within the GUI is most computing users have becomeaccustomed to understand.

While the conventional hierarchical tree structure has proven quiteeffective in illustrating one-dimensional parent-child relationshipsamong stored objects in a structured collection, the modern GUI is at aloss to illustrate multidimensional relationships in a structuredcollection of objects. Yet, many stored objects enjoy multi-facetedrelationships including, not only parent-child relationships, but alsomembership and access privileges relationships, date, time and placerelationships, related resources relationships, and alerts,notifications and alarms relationships. For example, a structuredcollection of tasks in an activity not only can include an ordering oftasks and nested sub-tasks, but also the structured collection of taskscan be viewed from the perspective of users permitted access to modifycertain tasks, resources required to complete certain tasks, or dates,times and places for performing certain tasks.

Recognizing the multidimensional nature of structured collections ofobjects, conventional solutions propose the juxtaposition of differenthierarchical trees within a GUI to provide different views of thestructured collection, where each hierarchical tree is of only onedimension of interest. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,024 toAlimpich et al. for DATA PROCESSOR CONTROLLED DISPLAY INTERFACE WITHTREE HIERARCHY OF ELEMENTS VIEW EXPANDABLE INTO MULTIPLE DETAILED VIEWS,upon selection of a parent object in a tree hierarchy, the child objectsfor the parent are displayed in multiple, different views in separatescreen regions in order to display attributes of one of the differenttypes of child objects.

The type of solution provided by Alimpich et al. is also apparent inU.S. Pat. No. 6,281,896 to Alimpich et al. for DATA PROCESSOR CONTROLLEDDISPLAY INTERFACE WITH TREE HIERARCHY OF ELEMENTS VIEW EXPANDABLE INTOMULTIPLE DETAILED VIEWS, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,394. to Herzberg et al.for DOING BUSINESS EMPLOYED LINKED TREES HAVING RETRIEVABLE EMBEDDEDINFORMATION, and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,842,176 Sang'udi et al. COMPUTERRELATED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING DATA VISUALIZATION IN EXTERNALDIMENSION(S). In all such cases, however, separate views are providedfor each dimension resulting in a cluttered screen and incoherentpresentation for the end user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art inrespect to the display of multidimensional structures and provide anovel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product formanaging an integrated multidimensional view of a structured collectionof objects. In one embodiment of the invention, a data processing systemcan be configured to render an integrated view of a multidimensionalstructured collection of objects. The data processing system can includea GUI for a host application in a computing platform andmultidimensional view processing logic coupled to the host application.The logic can include program code enabled to render a single,integrated multidimensional view of a structured collection of objectsin the GUI.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method for managing anintegrated multidimensional view of a structured collection of objectsin a GUI can be provided. The method can include providing a view of atleast a portion of objects in the structured collection of objectsaccording to a first dimension, selecting one of the objects in theprovided view, and embedding within the provided view an in-line view ofattributes of the selected one of the objects according to a seconddimension. Optionally, the method also can include concurrentlyembedding within the provided view an in-line view of attributes of adifferent selected one of the objects according to a third dimension.Finally, as yet another option, selecting one of the objects in theprovided view can include selecting an activatable icon from among atleast two activatable icons associated with the selected one of theobjects, the selected activatable icon having an association with thesecond dimension.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspectsof the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elementsand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It isto be understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred,it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of an integrated multidimensionalview of a structured collection of objects;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a data processing systemconfigured to manage an integrated multidimensional view of a structuredcollection of objects; and,

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for managing an integratedmultidimensional view of a structured collection of objects.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system andcomputer program product for managing an integrated multidimensionalview of a structured collection of objects. In accordance with anembodiment of the present invention, a single, integrated view ofstructured collection of objects can be provided. Each object of thesingle, integrated view can be configured for selectively providing anin-line view of two or more different dimensions for the object. In thisway, different portions of the provided view can provide a sub-view ofthe structured collection of objects according to one of manydimensions. Yet, the entire single, integrated view need not reflectonly a single dimension.

In further illustration, FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of twoexemplary integrated multidimensional views of a structured collectionobjects. In a first aspect of the invention, the structured collectioncan be viewed in-line, while in a second aspect of the invention, thestructured collection can be viewed hierarchically in a tree view. Ineither case, as shown in FIG. 1, an integrated multidimensional view ofobjects 110 can define a hierarchy having a root node 130, one or moreleaf nodes 150A, 150B, 150N, 160A, 160B, 160N and one or moreintermediate nodes 140A, 140B, 140N. Each one of the intermediate nodes140A, 140B, 140N can define a branch of nodes for the integratedmultidimensional hierarchical view 110. Notably, each of the root node130 and intermediate nodes 140A, 140B, 140N can include an activatableicon 120A, 120B, 120N, each of the activatable icons representing aviewable dimension for a branch of nodes below the corresponding one ofthe root node 130 and intermediate nodes 140A, 140B, 140N.

In this regard, the selection of one of the activatable icons 120A,120B, 120N for a particular one of the root node 130 and intermediatenodes 140A, 140B, 140N can result in the rendering of an in-line view ofa sub-hierarchy of intermediate nodes 140A, 140B, 140N and leaf nodes150A, 150B, 150N, 160A, 160B, 160N based upon the dimension associatedwith the selected one of the activatable icons 120A, 120B, 120N.Optionally, more than one of the activatable icons 120A, 120B, 120N canbe concurrently selected for the root node 130 or any of theintermediate nodes 140A, 140B, 140N. Consequently, multiple hierarchiesfor different dimensions for the root node 130 or any one of theintermediate nodes 140A, 140B, 140N can be displayed adjacent to oneanother within the a single, integrated multidimensional view of thestructured collection of objects 110.

Notably, the integrated multidimensional view of a structured collectionof objects 110 can be managed within a data processing system.Specifically, FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a data processingsystem configured to manage an integrated multidimensional view of astructured collection of objects. As shown in FIG. 2, the dataprocessing system can include a host computing platform 210 arrangedwith a graphical operating system 220. The graphical operating system220 can be configured to generate a GUI 240 for a hosted application230. In this regard, as it is well-known in the art, the operatingsystem 220 can include graphical resources exposed to applicationsthrough an application programming interface that can be invoked fordisplay by application logic.

The hosted application 230 can be enabled to include a multidimensionaldata structure 250. The multidimensional data structure can include astructured collection of objects which can be related to one anotherdifferently depending upon a defined relationship. For instance, eachdefined relationship can be a dimension and can include parent-child,membership and access privileges, date, time and places, relatedresources, alerts, notifications and alarms to name a few differentdimensions of relationship between objects in the hierarchy.Multidimensional view processing logic 300 can be coupled to the hostapplication 230 and can provide a single, integrated multidimensionalview 270 of the structured collection of objects in the multidimensionaldata structure 250.

In this regard, the multidimensional view processing logic 300 canprovide a view of multiple activatable icons for each differentdimension adjacent to each node of the integrated multidimensional view270. Responsive to the activation of an activatable icon for a selectedobject in the structured collection of objects, an in-line view can berendered within the provided view for the selected object. Importantly,the in-line view can be rendered according to dimension associated withthe activatable icon. More particularly, the objects represented by theobjects of the in-line view can be arranged according to the attributedefined for the dimension of the activated icon.

In further illustration, FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a processfor managing an integrated multidimensional view of a structuredcollection of objects. Beginning in block 310, a root node for astructured collection of objects of a multidimensional data structurecan be loaded and a first dimension can be selected for processing inblock 320. In block 330, a view of the structured collection of objectsfor the multidimensional data structure can be constructed according toa relationship specified by the selected dimension. Subsequently, indecision block 340, if additional dimensions remain to be considered, anext dimension can be selected in block 350 and the process can repeatin block 330.

In decision block 340, when no further dimensions remain to beconsidered, in block 360 one of the dimensions can be selected forviewing. Subsequently, in block 370 the objects for an in-line view canbe rendered to reflect the selected one of the dimensions. In decisionblock 380, if additional selections for different dimensions remain, theprocess can repeat in block 360. Otherwise, the process can end in block390.

Embodiments of the invention can take the form of an entirely hardwareembodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containingboth hardware and software elements. In a preferred embodiment, theinvention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limitedto firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like. Furthermore,the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessiblefrom a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing programcode for use by or in connection with a computer or any instructionexecution system.

For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computerreadable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or apropagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include asemiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computerdiskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), arigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of opticaldisks include compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compactdisk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution. Input/output or I/Odevices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointingdevices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or throughintervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to thesystem to enable the data processing system to become coupled to otherdata processing systems or remote printers or storage devices throughintervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernetcards are just a few of the currently available types of networkadapters.

I claim:
 1. An electronic device for rendering an integrated view of amultidimensional structured collection of objects, comprising: at leastone processor that executes computer usable program code to render asingle graphical user interface (GUI) on a display for a hostapplication; and multidimensional view processing logic coupled to thehost application, the logic comprising program code that, when executedby the processor, renders a single multidimensional view of a structuredcollection of unique objects on the display, wherein differentdimensions in the single multidimensional view correspond to differentrelationships among selected ones of the objects in a parent-childrelationship and also at least one of a membership and access privilegesrelationship, a date, time and places relationship, and an alerts, andnotifications and alarms relationship, each relationship selectivelyrendered responsive to selecting a corresponding activatable icon amonga plurality of activatable icons, the activatable icons disposed along afirst dimension whereby selection of each activatable icon causes eachrelationship to be rendered in a different dimension.
 2. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the single multidimensional view of thestructured collection of unique objects comprises: a hierarchy ofobjects comprising a root node coupled to a plurality of intermediatenodes terminating with a plurality of leaf nodes; and, the plurality ofactivatable icons associated with each node of the plurality ofintermediate nodes in the hierarchy, each of the activatable iconscorresponding to a different dimension, each activatable icon comprisinga configuration responsive to a selection of the activatable icon forrendering a sub-hierarchy below an associated node arranged according tothe corresponding dimension.
 3. The electronic device of claim 2,wherein each activatable icon for the associated node is configured tobe selected concurrently with at least one other activatable icon forthe associated node.
 4. A method for managing an integratedmultidimensional view of objects in a graphical user interface (GUI),the method comprising: rendering, on a display of an electronic device,a single multidimensional view of at least a portion of objects in astructured collection of unique objects according to a first dimensionin a single GUI; selecting one of the unique objects in the singlemultidimensional view; and embedding, within the single multidimensionalview, an in-line view of attributes of the selected one of the uniqueobjects according to a second dimension, the different dimensions in thesingle multidimensional view corresponding to different relationshipsamong selected ones of the objects and the single multidimensional viewconsisting of a parent-child relationship and also at least one of: amembership and access privileges relationship; a date, time and placesrelationship; and an alerts, and notifications and alarms relationship,each relationship selectively rendered responsive to selecting acorresponding activatable icon of a plurality of activatable icons, theactivatable icons disposed along a first dimension whereby selection ofeach activatable icon causes each relationship to be rendered in adifferent dimension than the first dimension.
 5. The method of claim 4,further comprising, concurrently embedding a different in-line view ofattributes for a different selected one of the objects according to athird dimension.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: selectinga different one of the objects in the single multidimensional view; and,embedding, in the single multidimensional view, a different a differentin-line view of attributes for the selected different one of the objectsaccording to a third dimension.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereinselecting one of the objects in the single multidimensional view,comprises selecting an activatable icon from among the activatable iconsassociated with the selected one of the objects, the selectedactivatable icon having an association with the second dimension.
 8. Themethod of claim 6, wherein selecting one of the objects in the singlemultidimensional view, comprises selecting an activatable icon fromamong a plurality of activatable icons associated with the selected oneof the objects, the selected activatable icon having an association withthe second dimension.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein selecting adifferent one of the objects in the single multidimensional view,comprises selecting an activatable icon from among a plurality ofactivatable icons associated with the selected different one of theobjects, the selected activatable icon having an association with thethird dimension.
 10. A computer program product comprising anon-transitory computer usable storage medium storing computer usableprogram code, which when executed by at least one processor, formanaging an integrated multidimensional view of a hierarchy of objectsin a graphical user interface (GUI) rendered on a display of anelectronic device, the computer program product including: computerusable program code, which when executed by the processor, for renderinga single multidimensional view of at least a portion of objects in thestructured collection of unique objects according to a first dimensionin a single GUI on the display; the computer usable program code furtherfor selecting one of the unique objects in the single multidimensionalview; and, the computer usable program code further for embedding withinthe single multidimensional view an in-line view of attributes of theselected one of the unique objects according to a second dimension, thedifferent dimensions in the single multidimensional view correspondingto different relationships among selected ones of the objects andconsisting of a parent-child relationship and also at least one of: amembership and access privileges relationship; a date, time and placesrelationship; and an alerts, and notifications and alarms relationship,each relationship selectively rendered responsive to selecting acorresponding activatable icon of a plurality of activatable icons, theactivatable icons disposed along a first dimension whereby selection ofeach activatable icon causes each relationship to be rendered in adifferent dimension than the first dimension.
 11. The computer programproduct of claim 10, further comprising, computer usable program codefor concurrently embedding in the structured collection of objects adifferent in-line view of attributes of a different selected one of theobjects according to a third dimension.
 12. The computer program code ofclaim 10, further comprising: computer usable program code for selectinga different one of the objects in the single multidimensional view; and,computer usable program code for embedding, within the singlemultidimensional view, a different in-line view of attributes of theselected different one of the objects according to a third dimension.13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computerusable program code for selecting one of the objects in the singlemultidimensional view, comprises computer usable program code forselecting an activatable icon from among the activatable iconsassociated with the selected one of the objects, the selectedactivatable icon having an association with the second dimension. 14.The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer usableprogram code for selecting one of the objects in the singlemultidimensional view, comprises computer usable program code forselecting an activatable icon from among a plurality of activatableicons associated with the selected one of the objects, the selectedactivatable icon having an association with the second dimension. 15.The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer usableprogram code for selecting one of the objects in the singlemultidimensional view, comprises computer usable program code forselecting an activatable icon from among a plurality of activatableicons associated with the selected one of the objects, the selectedactivatable icon having an association with the third dimension.